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Post by Raymond Neely on Jan 25, 2011 11:40:03 GMT -5
by Raymond Neely
The kettle frying began at about 10 am, but the bottles had been turned up a time or two before then. Price Carr, Dad, and Uncle Glen; Snuffy Smith spit tobacco juice everywhere.
Friends of Dad's who were also electricians, or who were block masons, labor union members, patrons of our beer jointt in Pipestem were often welcome, uncles and cousins, all gathered for the fry.
It was in the shade of the wood's edge and behind our trailer, where our picnick tables were, that a cloth was spread to put the catfish and cole slaw on, and one spread to play a poker game called "back up and push." The center of that table would be piled with nickles, dimes, and quarters, with cash money, watches, and pocket knives. The first table had bowls of macaroni salad, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, and plate after plate of fried catfish caught out of the New River. Dad and uncles would run trot lines across the river and catch them on poles just to celebrate on these hot days.
Wild Turkey and moonshine, catfish and poker, live bluegrass. I was young and dawdled and dashed from one happy spot to the next being patted on the head and taught things, my ears delighted by the speedy picking and twang of the instruments.
Everyone would eat catfish between hands of poker and drinks of whiskey. Those catfish frys were the joy of those old men, and of our family. This I fondly remember.
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Post by stephengodfrey on Jan 25, 2011 14:42:49 GMT -5
Nice inagery Raymond. Reminds me of some of my relatives gatherings. Steve
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cynthiacox
New Member
I have stood on a foundation of no substance. - C.M. Cox
Posts: 36
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Post by cynthiacox on Jan 27, 2011 17:48:08 GMT -5
This is a great laugh for me. I can relate all too well to all you speak. Thank you for sharing a style of poetry and story telling that spreads smiles. If one can not relate to a lifestyle of family bond as this, I am sure they have to read it and imagine what it means to be happy in the simplicity of life:) Cool share. Thanks:)
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